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Cook County Board Committee To Consider Paid Sick Leave Measure

A proposed ordinance to establish mandatory paid sick leave in Cook County is under consideration by board members.

The Cook County Board's Labor Committee is scheduled take up the proposal Wednesday morning, according to its agenda.

Cook County Commissioner Bridget Gainer (10th District) is sponsoring the proposed ordinance, which is similar to a mandatory paid sick leave measure approved by the Chicago City Council last month.

According to the proposal for Cook County, an employee who "works at least 80 hours for an employer within any 120-day period" would earn paid sick time. Under the proposal, eligible workers would accrue one hour of paid sick time for every 40 hours worked. Employees in the county would earn up to 40 hours of paid sick leave over one year, and carry as much as 20 hours of unused paid sick time into the next year.

The measure, if approved in committee and the full Cook County Board, would take effect in July 2017.

The Labor Committee meeting is scheduled for 9:15 a.m. Wednesday in the Cook County Board Room, 118 N. Clark St. The full Cook County Board meeting will also take place Wednesday at 11 a.m.